Flexible Organic EL Display with Anchored Glass Substrate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible display devices, particularly organic EL and liquid crystal display devices, face issues with plastic deformation and short mechanical lifespan due to substrate stress and moisture infiltration, leading to handling inconveniences and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a thin glass substrate with recessed portions filled with adhesive between the glass and support substrates to anchor them, preventing displacement and moisture ingress, while maintaining flexibility by adjusting the glass thickness for optimal curvature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a thin resin substrate is used to achieve flexibility, then the display device can be bent easily, but the substrate is prone to plastic deformation and may not return to its original planar shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure consisting of a thin resin substrate (10 μm polyimide) combined with a thin glass substrate (50-150 μm) to achieve both flexibility and shape stability. The resin provides flexibility while the glass maintains dimensional stability and prevents plastic deformation, creating a hybrid substrate system that combines the advantages of both materials.
2Ease of operation
If a support substrate is attached to the outer side of the display device, then handling convenience is improved, but the device becomes less flexible and more prone to plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an ultra-thin glass substrate (50-150 μm) that acts as a support layer while maintaining flexibility. This thin glass film provides the necessary mechanical support for handling convenience but is thin enough to allow the display device to be bent to a small radius of curvature, thus maintaining flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the resin substrate is made thinner to maintain flexibility with a support substrate, then flexibility is improved, but the resin substrate is more prone to detachment at the adhesive interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a specifically optimized thin glass substrate (50-150 μm) that is thin enough to maintain flexibility but thick enough to provide sufficient mechanical strength and stability at the adhesive interface, preventing detachment while preserving the ability to bend to a small radius of curvature.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a resin substrate is used for flexibility, then the display device can be bent, but moisture easily passes through the resin substrate and decomposes organic EL materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a resin substrate with a glass substrate to create a composite structure where the glass layer serves as a moisture barrier. The glass substrate is impermeable to moisture while the thin resin layer maintains flexibility, thus protecting the organic EL materials from moisture infiltration while preserving bendability.
5Object-affected harmful factors
If a thin glass substrate is used instead of resin, then moisture protection is improved, but the glass substrate may be displaced or detached from the resin substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thickness parameter of the glass substrate to 50-150 μm, which provides sufficient mechanical strength to prevent displacement and detachment at the adhesive interface while maintaining the ability to bend. This specific thickness range balances moisture protection, interface stability, and flexibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the mechanical durability and flexibility of flexible display devices by reducing plastic deformation and extending the lifespan of organic EL devices by blocking moisture and stabilizing substrate interfaces under stress.
Implementation Method 1
a support substrate glued on a lower side of the glass substrate via a first adhesive, in which recessed portions or projecting portions are formed on the glass substrate at a side thereof facing the support substrate, and in which the recessed portions or a space between each of the projecting portions is filled with the first adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides an organic EL display device that, even if bent, is not prone to plastic deformation and has improved moisture blocking characteristics.An organic EL display device includes: a glass substrate; an organic EL layer formed on an upper side of the glass substrate; and a support substrate glued on a lower side of the glass substrate via a first adhesive. Recessed portions or projecting portions are formed on the glass substrate at a side thereof facing the support substrate. The recessed portions or a space between each of the projecting portions is filled with the first adhesive.